Tightwads Tips for Saving on Severn Auto Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can overdraw your savings account and make it impossible to make ends meet. Comparing price quotes is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to slash your bill and have more diposable income. You have so many to pick from, and even though it's nice to have a choice, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to price shop coverage quite often because insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best price last year you may be paying too much now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate the tricks you need to know to buy cheaper auto insurance.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Severn is quite easy. If you currently have car insurance, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using these techniques. Maryland drivers only need an understanding of how to find the lowest price over the internet.

Low Cost Severn Auto Insurance

There are multiple methods to compare auto insurance quotes, and some are less labor-intensive and much quicker. You could spend your day talking to agents in Severn, or you can stay home and use the web to get prices fast.

All the larger companies are enrolled in a marketplace that enables customers to only type in their quote data once, and each participating company can provide price quotes based on that information. This saves time by eliminating quote forms to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

One minor caviat to doing it this way is that you can't choose which companies you will receive quotes from. So if you want to choose individual companies for rate comparison, we have a listing of the cheapest auto insurance companies in Maryland. Click to view list.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but make darn sure you compare identical information for each price quote. If the quotes have higher or lower deductibles you will not be able to truly determine the lowest rate in Severn.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

It's important that you understand the different types of things that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" that factor into your rates.

Traffic violations increase rates - Even a single moving violation may increase your cost by twenty percent. Drivers with clean records tend to pay less for car insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who get flagrant violations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to keep their license.
Older drivers save more - Teen drivers in Maryland are known to be less responsible when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Parents adding a youthful driver onto your auto insurance can really hurt. More mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.
Where you live is a factor - Residing in a small town has it's advantages when insuring your vehicles. Drivers who live in large cities have to deal with congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Lower population means reduced accidents.
Drive less and save money - Driving more miles in a year's time the higher your rates will be. The majority of insurers apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks that are left in the garage qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
Drive a safer car and pay less - Safer cars can get you lower premiums. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance do not list every available discount very clearly, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you're just leaving money on the table.

Good Student Discount - Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
Resident Student - Kids in college who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
Life Insurance - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
Low Mileage - Fewer annual miles can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Anti-theft System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Driver Safety - Taking a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill depending on where you live.
Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
No Claims - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially compared to frequent claim filers.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don't profit that way.

For a list of providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Maryland, click here to view.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Every insured's situation is different so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether or not you could use an agent's help.

Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Maryland?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?

If you're not sure about those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It's fast, free and may give you better protection.

More tips and info about auto insurance can be found at the Maryland Insurance Administration website. Maryland consumers can file complaints about a company, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, view agent and company licensing information, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Other useful links include III.org's auto insurance page and this directory of insurance agents in Severn Maryland.

Best coverage at the best price

In this article, we presented many tips how you can lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with a lesser-known regional company. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as .

As you prepare to switch companies, make sure you don't reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

Cost effective auto insurance can be purchased online in addition to many Severn insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not provide online quoting and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.